Tag Archives: censorship

The Associated Press reports: People younger than 18 have been barred from visiting this year’s World Press Photo exhibition in Budapest, after Hungary’s right-wing populist government determined that some of its photos violate a contentious law restricting LGBTQ content. The prestigious global photo exhibition, on display in Hungary’s National Museum in Budapest, receives more than 4 million visitors from around …

Houston’s CBS affiliate reports: At a July 11 commissioner’s court meeting in Montgomery County, a battle over books took center stage. “This is really an agenda to sexualize our children at a young age,” Lisa Palmer said. Michele Nuckolls expressed frustration at the lack of conservative-themed books in the library system. “I was not able to find one book on …

The Associated Press reports: A federal lawsuit filed Friday challenges an Arkansas law that would subject librarians and booksellers to criminal charges if they provide “harmful” materials to minors. A coalition that includes the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock filed the challenge to the law, which takes effect Aug. 1. The new law also creates a new process …

The Texas Tribune reports: House Bill 900, which would set new standards for school libraries to keep sexually explicit content off bookshelves, is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Librarians, legal experts and some parents are concerned that the bill’s language is vague and broad enough to ensnare books that are not inappropriate. “House Bill 900 is simply another tool …

NBC News reports: Penguin Random House, authors, parents and a free speech group filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a Florida school district for removing 10 books related to race and the LGBTQ community after a high school teacher complained. In addition to the publishing house, PEN America, a nonprofit group that advocates for free expression in literature, five authors whose …

Lexington’s NPR affiliate reports: Kentucky lawmakers sent a controversial bill criticized as a “book-banning” measure to the desk of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear Wednesday night. After more than an hour of heated debate the measure cleared the GOP-controlled House 80-18. All Republicans supported the measure, joined by one Democrat, Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty. Most of the titles targeted center LGBTQ …

Bridge Michigan reports: Lapeer County Prosecutor John Miller says he may file criminal charges against employees or officials of the Lapeer District Library if an LGBTQ-themed graphic novel isn’t removed from the shelves. Miller told Bridge Michigan on Monday the illustrations in the book “Gender Queer: A Memoir” could rise to the level of accosting, enticing or soliciting a child …

Rolling Stone reports: The then-president, according to two former Trump administration officials, was so upset by Jimmy Kimmel’s comedic jabs that he directed his White House staff to call up one of Disney’s top executives in Washington, D.C., to complain and demand action. (ABC, on which Jimmy Kimmel Live! has long aired, is owned by Disney.) In at least two …

The Associated Press reports: Books containing “sexually explicit” content — including depictions of sexual or gender identity — would be banned from North Dakota public libraries under legislation that state lawmakers began considering Tuesday. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, of Dickinson, introduced the bill and said public libraries currently contain books that have “disturbing and disgusting” content, including ones that …

From GOP Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft: Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office has submitted a proposed rule that would establish a certification requirement for libraries receiving state funds and institute measures to protect minors from non-age-appropriate materials. As stated in the proposal, libraries would adopt written policies determining what material is age-appropriate. As well, state funds could not …

From the editorial board of the New York Times: Fights about free speech can feel rhetorical until they are not. Here’s what censorship looks like in practice: A student newspaper and journalism program in Nebraska shuttered for writing about pride month. The state of Oklahoma seeking to revoke the teaching certificate of an English teacher who shared a QR code …

The South China Morning Post reports: China’s censors have deleted multiple scenes and altered reference about a recurring lesbian character in the 1990s US television sitcom Friends, which has sparked outrage among the popular show’s large audience on the mainland. That has practically buried the lesbian identity of recurring character Carol Willick in the first season of Friends, which major …

Reuters reports: Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Friday warned Walt Disney Co against distributing content it said was harmful to children in Russia with its release of a short film, “Out”, which features a gay main character. Roskomnadzor said it had sent a letter to Disney noting that it was against Russian law to distribute information which “denies family values …

The BBC reports: A judge in Brazil has ruled that a film depicting Jesus as gay must be removed from the TV streaming service Netflix. The film, The First Temptation of Christ, infuriated fervent Christians in the country. Two million people signed a petition calling for it to be axed, and the production company was attacked with Molotov cocktails last …

The Guardian reports: A scene showing a lesbian kiss has been cut from the Singaporean version of the Star Wars film The Rise of Skywalker. The country’s media regulatory body said Disney removed the clip to avoid the film being given a higher age rating. It is PG13, which means parental guidance is advised for children under 13. In Singapore, …

From the Hollywood Reporter: South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone probably saw this coming, and to their credit, simply didn’t care. The most recent episode of South Park, “Band in China,” has been generating loads of media attention for its sharp critique of the way Hollywood tends to shape its content to avoid offending Chinese government censors in …

Devin Nunes surely approves. The Moscow Times reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial set of bills that make it a crime to “disrespect” the state and spread “fake news” online, Russian media reported on Monday. The bills amending existing information laws overwhelmingly passed both chambers of Russian parliament in less than two months. Observers and some lawmakers …

From the Hollywood Reporter: 20th Century Fox’s smash hit Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody received permission Wednesday to open theatrically in China. The decision came as something of a surprise to the country’s local film industry given Beijing’s past repressive stance on content featuring gay characters. At the same time that news of Bohemian Rhapsody’s release clearance was circulating through …

Via email from hate group leader Monica Cole: WARNING! A new blasphemous series premieres February 12 at 10:30/9:30 pm CT on TBS, and it has Christians pretty fired up. Coming this February on TBS Network is a new comedy program titled “Miracle Workers.” TBS’ tagline for the program is “On the trillionth day God quit.” This TBS produced sitcom is …

Just in from hate group leader Monica Cole: The newest POM Wonderful Antioxidant drink ad includes a woman doing yoga while the “Worry Monster” mascot talks to viewers. “As Julie’s Worry Monster, I couldn’t wait for her 50th birthday,” the monster says. “But instead of worrying, she does yoga and drinks POM. I thought we’d have more girls’ nights reading …